Judging
by the packed pit area for Saturday’s final practice
session and the brisk tire business leading up to
the event, the 40th running of the Turkey Derby this
Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1)
at Wall Stadium Speedway looks like an all-star race
for open wheel Modified stock cars.

A strong list of invading drivers is led by 2013
NASCAR Modified Tour champion Ryan Preece of Berlin,
Ct. driving the No. 7NY for NASCAR Sprint Cup team
owner Tommy Baldwin. Baldwin has formed a super team
for the annual Thanksgiving weekend event as a
second car; No. 76 will be fielded with many time
winner Jimmy Blewett of Howell at the wheel.

Coming off a great 2013 season Matt Hirschman of
Northampton, Pa. is expected to return in an effort
to win his second straight Turkey Derby classic.
Other invaders expected include Les Hinckley of
Windsor Locks, Ct., Jimmy Zacharias off Candor, NY,
Earl Paules of Palmerton, Pa., Jeff Malone of South
Windsor, Ct., Howell’s Jamie Tomaino, Anthony Sesely
of Matawan, Rowan Pennink of Huntington Valley, Pa.,
Jason Hearne of New Egypt, North Carolina’s Danny
and Michael Bohn and Dave Sapienza of Riverhead, NY,
just to name a few.

Wall Stadium will be well represented as almost
every regular Modified competitor is expected to see
action. 2013 Modified champion Chas Okerson of
Freehold will lead the pack with others including
Holmdel’s Andrew Krause, Eric Mauriello of Howell,
Brick’s Shawna Ingraham, Lavallette’s Adam LaCicero,
Howell’s Steven Reed, Oakland’s Chris Hamilton,
Derek Hopkinson of Toms River and many others
expected to see action.

Many drivers are planning to field cars in both the
Tour Modified 150-lapper and the Wall/SK Modified
100-lap main event.

The Turkey Derby is a three day auto racing event
held during the daylight hours. On Friday, November
29, the Sportsman cars, Factory Stocks and 4
Cylinder cars will all compete in qualifying and
50-lap main events. The Legend Cars will qualify and
compete in a 40-lap feature. The Wall Modifieds will
also be on the card as they qualify for their
Saturday main event and the restored cars of the
Garden State Vintage Stock Car club will also be an
important part of the day. The pit area will open at
6:30 a.m. on Friday, while practice will start at
8:30 a.m. Grandstand seating will open at 9:30 a.m.,
qualifying is set for 12:30 p.m. and main events are
planned for 2:15 p.m.

Day two of the 40th Turkey Derby will see the
Touring Modifieds qualify and battle in a 150-lap
championship race while the Wall Modifieds race for
100-laps. Dirt Modified/Sportsman and Limited Late
Models will compete in 50-lap races while the TQ
Midgets are set for a 25-lapper. Qualifying, as
needed, is set for all divisions on Saturday. The
pit area will open at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, while
practice will start at 8:30 a.m. Grandstand seating
will open at 9:30 a.m., qualifying is set for 11:00
a.m. and main events are planned for 1:00 p.m.

The 40th Turkey Derby weekend will then wrap up on
Sunday, December 1 with a championship Demolition
Derby, a 75-lap race for the 4 Cylinder cars, a
50-lapper for the Factory Stocks and a ladies’
Powder Puff race. The pit area will open at 10:0
a.m. on Sunday, while practice will start at 11:00
a.m. Grandstand seating will open at noon as
qualifying begins and main events are planned for
1:00 p.m.
Wall Stadium presents professional motorsports
events on most Saturdays and Sundays from May
through September and special events in October and
November. The speedway is located on Route 34 in
Wall Township, N.J., just one mile north of Garden
State Parkway exit 98 and Interstate 195 exit 35B.
The speedway hotline number is 732-681-6400, while
CKMotorsports@aol.com is the track’s email
address. More information is also available at
www.wallspeedwayracing.com.